This blog is a part of self discovery, a symbol of my passion for writing - my madness, an attempt to be a part of the 'Write-A-Thon'. This is my space - beyond the judgement of others. Here, I dabble mostly in romance, poetry, shayari, book reviews, social issues that bother me and trending topics (venturing out of my comfort zone) with a dash of personal insights about life - an entertaining fiction itself!

“Realize that if a door closed, it’s because what was behind
it, isn’t meant for you.” The chief beauty about time is that you cannot waste
it in advance.

The next year, the next day, the next hour are lying ready
for you, as perfect, as unspoiled, as if you had never wasted or misapplied a
single moment in all your life.

Also, since the new year’s around the corner, we often make resolutions. It has
been my observation that every one of us who makes resolution either forgets
them or rarely takes any effort to materialize them! The resolutions you make
last year, are forgotten this year. People focus on what they want to achieve. But,
I see lack of 'niceness' around. We command people and nag them.

Happiness is not sitting with grim faces across the dinner
table, but enjoying a cheap pani puri with people you love, even if it is road side.
Let us resolve to put a smile on someone's face. It is a ripple effect. Smile
and the world smiles at you! What goes around comes around.

Let's resolve to be genuinely 'nice' this year to everyone around. With this
vision, I end my last post for the year.

The most eventful year of my life comes close to an end - awaiting
a new year, a new beginning, taking a leap of faith. You can turn over a new
leaf every hour if you choose. Let’s
start anew! Happy New Year readers!

Monday, 30 December 2013

The breaking of
dawn brings back to me the vivid memories of childhood, when the
start of the day with chirping of birds was like a new life... After
months of laziness (of not getting up early), I had been off late waking up
early to study for the exams (thank God, they are over now!), it was then that I
witnessed the scenic sunrise after many days... A small poem to capture the
silent, vacant moments...

Wednesday, 25 December 2013

Hello
readers. A few weeks ago, I received the Versatile Blogger Award from Karan Sampat at http://karan-sampat.blogspot.com/.
I am really happy to receive it. Thank you Karan! It is always so nice to receive
positive feedback from readers and fellow bloggers. I do try to cover a variety
of topics on this blog while staying true to my niche of romance and
inspiration.

These
nominations always come as a surprise and I’m always humbled, honored and
grateful that my writing has touched so many readers.

When
I first began this blog last June and started sharing my poetry, stories
and views, insecurity weighed heavily on my mind. I was thrilled to have
had one reader, one like and one comment. Then, over time, things
grew…

I
hope you can “feel” my sincerity when I “say” I’m very, very thankful.
And just to clarify, it’s not the recognition, but the opportunity to “touch”
others, “move” others, emotionally and make others “feel” when they read ~
Thank you so much for “listening.”

I
was really chuffed to get this acknowledgment. I’ve been writing this blog for about
7 months now and it has grown to a total of 68 pieces and thousands of words in
which I’ve reflected on my own life and views.

I’ve
intended this to be both useful and enjoyable and more and more feedback I’m
getting, including this award, is indicating that I’m succeeding in reaching
people who appreciate and sometimes benefit from what I’m writing. So, I also
want to use this as an opportunity to thank all my readers, and
especially all who have commented, pressed the ‘Like’ button, and even shared
my blogs with others. This is the greatest compliment of all.

Right, now back to business. The
working of the VBA is:

> Thank the person who nominated
you,

> Share 7 things about yourself,

> Nominate 15 other bloggers for
this award,

> Spread the news to them about
it.

As
part of the Versatile Blogger Award protocol, I am going to share seven facts about
myself with you and spread the love by nominating other blogs.

>
I am a believer in the concept of God, but I am secular. I believe if prayers
are true, then it doesn't matter if you join hands to pray at a temple, church
or at namaz.

>
I am extremely quick at grasping things, me being the consistent topper at
Engineering. :D I like learning new things. I feel it is a never ending
process. Love exploring the philosophical side of things, observing things and
people and then expressing them through creative avenues.

>
I like to eat burnt rice! :P

> I love reading romance, and write the
same too! My new-found passion and it is here to stay!

> I don't give up easily.

>
I hate liars; I believe dil 'saaf' toh dil 'safe' rehta hai!

>
I am a typical Scorpio with ditto matching traits and qualities!

Now, going onto the nominations part… I would like to share the Versatile Blogger Award
with:

Thanks
again to Karan and everyone who thinks my blog has something to offer. It means
the world to me. I love to write, but sometimes wonder if I’m actually going
anywhere with this, so having this affirmation really does help me get through
self-doubts. :)

Friday, 20 December 2013

‘If
your house burned down, a good friend would call and say ‘I am sorry...’ But a
best friend would say, ‘Yay! Now, you get to move in with me!’

Every
single soul on the earth has someone that they call a ‘best’ friend; more often
than not, we've known them for as long as we can remember. Best friends, worth
keeping are hard to come by, the ones who are there for us through thick and
thin and become close for reasons unknown.

Friend-
A simple word isn't it? A person that touches your heart and makes you laugh.
You can spend hours with them doing nothing at all and it can be the best time
of your life, just because it was with ‘them’. They're the people you can share
your secrets with, cry with, laugh with, and just have fun with. They don't
judge you or change you. They accept you exactly as you are. They look at you
and they see a great person. You are tied together by memories, tears, laughs, smiles
and deep love for each other.

There
are some friendships that we remember forever. These are the friendships that
were formed when we were children.

‘Everybody
dies twice, once when their childhood ends!’

I
believe the quality and depth of sharing is not the same as in adult
friendships. Childhood friendships lack the drama and intensity that is shared
in adult friendships. Whereas, adolescent friendships are often mad and
intense, sadly not always permanent as much as you can be convinced they will
be at the time - some long ago recorded memories of those sometimes dangerous
escapades before you have to become a full fledged adult. At the same time,
there is a certain carefree quality that exists between the two young children
at play. They don't ask themselves complicated questions like whether they have
enough in common. It is enough that they are two kids and that there is playing
to be done.

‘Best
friend’ means different things to different people. Some insist that you can
have only one best friend. Others assert that they have best friends for
different aspects of their personalities. Whatever the precise definition, your
best friend is the person who gets you, as plain as that. They understand who
you are and what you are saying.

I was
lucky enough too, to hold, smell and taste the flavor of true friendship. Touchwood!
The fondest memories we gather in the journey of life are the ones that remind
us of our beloved friends! Though the person is not close by, these memories
always linger. I too have a childhood ‘best’ friend - Stefi, a gem of a person.
And the best part is, we continue being ‘best’ of friends for over years
uncountable now.

It had
been months since I met her, but today Dove gives me a chance to meet her. She
is here at my place for the #DoveFaceTest.

As we sit and remember, we laugh
over those old childhood stunts! Girls always want to have fun and we attagirls
had super duper fun together!

Expressing our bond, happy memories and our games
in paragraphs would be unfair. I choose to describe it in poetry - the purest
form of expression of the love and friendship we share!

*************************

~ ‘Coz
That’s What Best Friends Do ~

We are
soul sisters, one of a kind,

Matching
our frock and hair clip colors…

Three
words that described us then -

Partners
in crime!

Sharing
our crushes, joking around,

The
essence of those days,

The innocence
called childhood,

Running
faster…

To
catch the window seat of the school bus,

We
thought school was cruel then…

Finishing
the torture called homework soon,

To get
back to play together in the noon!

Moments
of endless laughter,

Riding
our Ladybird cycles,

Owning it was like having an own BMW!

Priceless
chats, our memories,
Of both bright and sunny days.
There are memories of your kindness,
And your thoughtful ways…
There are memories of all those notes,
We would write back and forth,
When we would just get together,
And talk of this or that.

I’ll
remember forever…

By your
side I would always stand,

And you'd stand by mine too…
Because that’s what best friends do!

You walked across this world with me,

To say that it’s okay..
To show me the right way.

I still remember the first day we met…

In Kindergarten we were set,

We were
too shy to say much at all,
It's funny to think back to that time,
Because now we're having a ball!
Friends from then on,

Without
a doubt!

Remember,

The
grand wedding Barbie doll we played with…?

In her fairytale dress and veil, Her
ponytail in golden ripples,

And her
adjustable joints!

Talking
of our wedding gowns,

Twirling
hair around with a pencil,

To get
those perfect curls like Barbie,

Pearls
& boas, dressed to the nines,
Lipstick on pursed lips, trying to stay in the lines…
Big wobbly high heels, on tiny, precious feet,
Little girls playing dress-up, weren't we sweet?!

From
cute little girls of three,

We then
grew up, to be teens,

To have
blisters and pimples...

Remember,
then you suggested me,

Your
magic soap, ‘Dove’!

‘Go for
it’, you chirped!

You
said, “Best friends share everything,

Even the
secret to glowing, supple skin!”

Since
then we lived wild and carefree,

Let our
hair down and partied,

On the
stage of life!

Every time I see you, it lights a smile on my face,
You are one of the girls…

That
never over looked me ,
Once you saw me I was your sunshine...

You give me all these nicknames ,
You can't keep track!
I can't too…!

The
unbreakable trust we share,

I would never survive without you,

Every
time I trusted someone,

It blew
up in my face…
But I’m glad to have found my one true sound,
The one girl who I care for, for whom,
I’d put my life on the line...

I tell you everything because I know I can,
Who knew two girls so close,Could be so very different,

Until we met!

I feel so strong when I depend on you.

Through
tears and fights,
Through smiles and everything,
Through love and hate,
Through betrayal and debate…
For you I would always have faith,
It is true,

We are
best friends forever!

You are the one that came to me,

When
things went wrong…
I just sat there and listened,

When
you cried out to me,
Maybe, we have telepathy…

I came
to you with everything,

Holding
my petite hand you said,

"I
love you no matter what comes our way!"
You were the friend that came to me and said, "Let’s go get him!" or,

"I'll
handle it sweetie" or "You're better without him!"

Today,
as we sit exchanging tales about our past,
And laughing as the memories flow…
Within my book of memories,
Are special thoughts of you…
And all the many nice things…

As I turn the pages,

And recall each single thought,

I realize the happiness,
That knowing you has brought to me…
And when I recall these memories,
As I go along life's way,
I find they grow more precious still,
With every passing day

Being
your sister,
And your best friend, I know,
This kinship wouldn't end, ever!

I love
you, my friend…

Cheers
to our amazing blazing friendship..!

Cheers
to Aayesha and Stefi.. :)

Image Courtesy: Mr Dependable, Google.

This is
my entry for the Dove Guessing Game Contest organized by Indiblogger.

Sunday, 15 December 2013

Some
people may get tablets because they are the ‘cool’ new technology, but then have
no idea what to do with it and are left scratching their heads! Others
may receive them as a gift or for work with the same effect. If tablets
didn’t have important functions they never would have been created to begin
with. The truth is that tablets can have a profound effect on your daily
life if you know how to use them.

One of
the strengths of a tablet is its large screen. This allows media lovers
to basically carry around a mobile television. For those who love to
watch movies and television on the go, the large, clear screen allows for tons
of mobile entertainment. Users interested in literature can have a big
screen and a myriad of apps to keep them happy.

This is
more convenient than carrying around a laptop. Tablets are simple to use and
versatile devices. Laptops are heavy pieces of equipment. With a tablet, you
will do away with all of that undo shoulder strain. Keep it in a safety sleeve,
and your tablet should fit right in the bag you carry with you, extremely
portable. Tablets are an emerging technology and nobody knows just what the
future will bring with this gadgets. One thing is for sure, tablet
computers are not going anywhere soon.

***********************

Tablets
have integrated into our everyday lives and owning one has made my life easier.

My
daily tablet life:

7:00 My
alarm clock on my tablet goes off and I get out of bed. While I am getting
dressed for the day, I listen to some music on my tablet. Thanks to the great sound,
it is no different than a radio in the room.

8:00
While enjoying my breakfast, I read the newspaper on my tablet to catch up on
what is happening in the world. The news application lets me choose which types
of news I want to receive and only shows me what I want to see and not all the
boring stuff I am not interested in.

8:30 On
my way to college, I listen to my favorite music again. At times, I can’t help
but to sing out loud.

9:00 I
check my e-mails and my to-do list on the calendar for the day. I also use it
to quickly make a couple of calls.

11:00
Me and my friends have frequent arguments and we Google the answer on my
tablet!

12:00 I
go pick my lunch that I order from my tablet and enjoy my meal while laughing
at some silly jokes I received via e-mail, WhatsApp or WeChat.

15:00
Not in the mood to study, so I silently watch a movie on my tablet with my
Bluetooth headset or at times, I write my thoughts in the ‘Notes’ section.

17:15
On my way home, I play my all time favorite games, ‘Temple Run’ and ‘Subway
Surfers’; these games keep the child in you alive!

21:00
In bed and my tablet is plugged into my HD TV and I enjoy a movie before bed.

23:00 Can’t
sleep so I browse Facebook to see what is happening with my friends and to see
what they have been up to.

The day
is over!

************************

Better
ways to use the Yoga Tablet:

#1. Vacation Station

From
the beginning of the process to actually being there, one can use a tablet to
put you on a cruise vacation, a sandy beach or a mountain trail! With your
Internet connected tablet, all your initial research can be done anywhere, from
your sofa, patio and if the boss isn't looking, even while you're at work. With
a tablet as your travel planner, you can check out photographs and reviews of
your destination, as well as availability and costs of flights, car rental,
hotels, restaurants, insurance, and any number of activities for you and your
family when you get there.

#2. Workout Buddy

When
you're racking up the miles on a lonely treadmill, what better way to provide
much needed entertainment than a well-positioned tablet? Now it's easy to catch
up with the TV you missed the night before, a favorite episodes, or a classic
movie maybe. With your tablet connected, you'll also have access to hundreds of
fitness, nutrition and diet guidance apps to help you lead a healthier life.

#3. Ultimate Shopper

With a
tablet you will become a shopping guru. If there's a bargain within a hundred
miles, you'll sniff it out using the latest shopping apps. Armed with a 3G
internet connection, you can scan barcodes and check prices in store, then compare
prices with other suppliers nearby. How far will you drive to get that dress
for half price? And will it be in stock? Simple - use your tablet to check
availability and even get driving directions to another store while you're
online!

#4. Online Storage and Portable Backup

Get
organized with Dropbox - one of the most user-friendly file storage and
management tablet apps around. It allows you to securely store all your data
files online, as well as supporting cross-platform file syncing, online backup
and restore functions. Whatever you've stored is completely accessible, so you
can download, upload, share and retrieve using one account on any online
device. Send download links to your friends; save photos and video from your
tablet's camera to other computers and even open files using other Android
applications.

#5. Silver screen

Also
available are tablet apps where details of any movie theatre, including local
show timings are given. You can also see how films are performing at the box
office, and get a sneak peek at new theatre and DVD releases. If you want to
see how critics rated a particular film you can also read their reviews before
you head out. And whatever you think of films you've seen, you can share your
own opinion with friends and family too.

#6. Get Organized ~ Time Management!

Want to
be more productive? There are highly-effective tools designed for time
tracking, recording how long you spend on a task and converting this into clear
reporting information. You can use it as an individual, or for teams of people
working together on a project.

#7. Games

Funny,
stylish games with great sound effects are available for download. But be
warned - you may pick it up to kill a few idle minutes and then realize you've
lost an hour. They help you pass time with ease.

#8. Reading On The Go!

Whether
you are a daily reader, or you enjoy weekly comic books, tablets have
applications that are going to give you a better reading experience than books.
With the storage of tablets, you can keep hundreds of books, newspapers,
comics, or reference materials well in hand to check and use whenever the need
arises.

#9. Media Whenever!

Music
videos, movie rentals, and television programs are all ready for you with a
local hot-spot nearby. No need to have cable anymore!

#10. Printing

With a
USB connector, any tablet can become a quick way to get a document you need. No
need to log on to a foreign computer to get what you need. Jack in your tablet,
and print whatever you choose.

#11. Reviews All The Time!

Ever
been torn between two restaurants, and you wished you had competent reviews to
check out? Pop the name of the places in on your tablet, and you are
immediately given all of the details you need!

#12. A Second Screen

Perfect
for college students, a tablet is the reference book on your lap while you type
your thesis. Instead of having multiple windows open which can get messy and
confusing, a tablet makes an ideal second monitor for getting twice as much
work done.

#13. Creativity Enhancement & Writing

Tablets
have made the quick transition to being smaller laptops by adding peripherals
like small keyboards that can be attached on the go. With that available to
you, there is no reason to not keep working on your bestselling novel, or
create a song using any number of interesting music generators.

#14. Go Paperless!

Scrap
the paper! Use your tablet to jot down quick notes like phones numbers
and to-do lists. Download and edit PDFs so there is no longer a need to
print out stacks of papers for your next meeting.

#15. Learning by e-books

> >Matching
Lifestyle of Students

Textbooks
are not only expensive but also take a lot of room if you’re a book-worm. On
the other hand, thousands of e-books may only take several gigabytes out of
your tablet. For a student, taking three large
books isn’t considerable. Instead, he can take 1 tablet for all them
and still get more. I wish to see tablets stepping on its predecessor’s
footprint of education to experience a new realm of learning.

Students
are tech savvy and we know that. Students like to hang around with their
electronic gadgets all the time and with the help of tablet, they’ll get the
whole education system in their tablet. They’ll be able to get everything which
fits best for their lifestyle.

>>
Customizable Teaching Techniques

Textbooks
don’t offer presentations, audio tracks, video lectures etc to illustrate
topics more clearly, tablets do! But, with the help of tablets, student can
learn more quickly and efficiently. You’ll not only connect yourself with your
relative classmates but also with the whole world by sharing your works through
internet. You can also get help from thousands of teachers who are willing to
provide you any kind of help.

*********************

My idea
of an ‘ideal’ tablet ~

>Whatever
you're looking for in a tablet, you'll want to choose a model that makes the
best use of its biggest and most iconic feature – that beautifully-large smooth
glass screen with high resolution capability, pin sharp breathtaking clarity.

>The
cutting-edge graphics technology and clear digital audio of a tablet come
together to bring all multimedia applications to life – in particular, the
quality of your movie-watching experiences taken to a whole new level. Watch
anything, anywhere.

An
answer to my expectations ~ The Lenovo Yoga Tablet, at its versatile best!

True to
its name (it's named after Lenovo's convertible Yoga
PCs),
the screen can fold over. It rotates 135 degrees, allowing for three different
usage modes. You can use it as a traditional tablet with the kickstand closed
("Read mode") or you can open the kickstand so that the tablet's
propped up on its own (that's be "Stand mode"). There's also
"Tilt mode," which involves laying the tablet face-up with the
cylindrical battery keeping the device slightly propped up, allowing for easier
on-screen typing.

These
light weight tablets sport a kickstand which lets the tablet sit upright, which
is perfect for watching a movie, having a video chat, or even using the device
as an impromptu digital picture frame. The kickstand also lets you lay the
tablet down at a lower angle, which is ideal for typing. No accessory case
required! Finally, Hold mode lets you grip the tablet more comfortably in your
palm for reading in portrait mode. It feels firm and balanced in a way that it
shouldn't, the thinness of the bezel is still a little thrill, the anodized
back is just grippy enough that you can walk around with it one handed and not
worry about slippage.

The
chrome painted trim of the Yoga helps complete the premium look of the tablet.
This silver-like finish offers a premium look and makes it stand out in a world
of black and white slates. The thick rounded edge at one side of the Yoga isn’t
just there to support the different Yoga modes, but it provides housing for its
better than average battery. These are tablets that will last the whole day
with you, that is 13 hours of battery life with wi-fi turned on and the screen
set at a lower brightness setting. It is ideal for frequent-flyers and marathon
TV watchers.

When it
comes to Android tablets, they are all rather ho-hum; big rectangular slabs. Thank
god that, Lenovo felt the pain of Android users and has created a new solution
-- a better way, a tablet which can do Yoga, don’t take my words literally
though! Thank you Lenevo!

Image Courtesy : Google.

P.S: This is
my entry for the #BetterWay Contest for Lenevo Yoga tablet organized by Indiblogger.